“1923” has created enough buzz, thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s utmost dedication to expanding the Dutton family saga. “Yellowstone” remains one of the best family dramas out there, and as an extension of the familial universe, we previously got “1883”; and now we have “1923,” which takes us deep into the politics of the ranchmen who have vast lands under their name where they nurture and graze livestock and live off of that with their families. The richest and most powerful of them is the Dutton family ranch, which has now been taken over by Jacob and Cara Dutton. It was interesting to watch the patriarch and the matriarch taking care of the kids of Jacob’s brother and grooming them to take over. One of their nephews is far away in Africa, distancing himself from the politics of the ranch. Since he is a Great War veteran, it has become difficult for him to feel at ease in the comfort of one’s family.
The first season of “1923” has been nothing short of excellent. The character graph, the arcs, the ups and downs, and the complexity of the characters are explored with such finesse that it is not easy to take your eyes off any one of them for a second. The characters grow on you, and one can only hope they get what they seek. There are Jacob and Cara Dutton, who are aging, and they know the time will come soon when the ranch has to be taken over by someone younger and stronger than them. Though they seem hearty, healthy, and happy, it is their self-awareness that comes out beautifully. Teonna, the Native American girl admitted to the Christian convent, is struggling to fit in and is having a hard time giving up her culture, faith, and identity. She soon resorts to violence to make her point clear, and when that does not work, she runs away—not before killing the nuns who abused her. Teonna’s pain and struggle are palpable. It is hard to look away from the hardship the girl faces at such a young age. It is her adamant nature of not giving up on her identity that makes her a strong woman.
Meanwhile, Spencer Dutton is spending his time taming and killing wild animals with nothing to look forward to at the end of the day. Until he meets Alexandra, a rich British woman who is attracted to him and does not hide that fact. Alexandra breaks off her engagement to run off with Spencer, only to realize they are both perfect for each other. They both seek adventure, and Spencer has never felt so calm in his life. Cara and Jacob face a crisis at the ranch, and all she can think of is asking Spencer to come back because there are few Duttons left to take care of their ranch. Spencer reads the letter late; he and Alexandra thus begin the strenuous journey of going back to America from Africa.
Since the stage has been set for the season finale, and as an enthusiastic viewer of the series, I would like to see Alexandra and Spencer face one more big challenge before sailing for America. Alexandra’s family. Spencer and Alexandra lived through pretty much all sorts of dangers, so dealing with Alexandra’s parents should not be a difficult task. But it will be interesting to understand why they are unwilling to let her go with Spencer. Alexandra, being a feisty young woman, would again take it upon herself to deal with her family. Once again, she will help Spencer face her family, and hopefully they will set sail for America. We would also like to see them finally reach their destination, which is Montana.
Now that Teonna has managed to get rid of the people searching for her, the meeting with her father and them leading a peaceful life from thereon would be something endearing to watch. She has faced enough trauma for a lifetime to be robbed of her father’s affection. It will be intriguing to watch how Teonna fits into the Dutton storyline. It will be surprising if Teonna ends up coming and working with the Duttons and becoming an ally of theirs. Teonna’s arc so far has been the hardest to watch. Keeping that in mind, it will be heartwarming for the viewers to watch if she gets to be with people who do not expect her to change just to fit in.
Now that war has been declared between Jacob Dutton and Banner Creighton, supported by mining industrialist Don Whitfield, the stage is set for the first cry of war. Banner’s arrest will surely make Don want to give Dutton another shock, which will shake them to the core, leading Dutton to go through dire circumstances. Don aims to replace Jacob Dutton with Banner Creighton so that he can finally start mining precious metals. Jacob and Cara will feel cornered, too, with no Spencer around, which will make Don a tad bit arrogant, and he might make a mistake out of sheer arrogance. Since we have been habituated to the way Season 1 of “Game of Thrones” ended, we would want a completely unexpected climax. Something in terms of making Jacob Dutton seem helpless, so that by the next season, it will all be about Jacob, Cara, and Spencer fighting for their land and pride. Jacob Dutton’s death is something that can be expected, which will pave the way for Cara, Spencer, and Jack to go behind Banner and Whitfield to exact revenge.
These are some of the scenarios we expect in the season one finale of “1923.” This show has been an engaging, surprising, and fascinating tale of men and women who, in the face of adversity, do not give up on something they love and cherish. Looking forward to some astounding closure of stories that come to life in the season finale.
